Hundreds join party for new Sheffield community hall

Opening of Link at Stradbroke

More than 200 people braved the rain to mark the official launch of a new community hall set up in a former hairdressing salon

An open day took place to celebrate the new lease of life for the building on Stradbroke Drive, Sheffield.

Opening of Link at Stradbroke'Dynamic Duo with Briony and Kegan

And despite miserable wet weather, families turned out in numbers for the launch.

The centre has opened following a year of work involving volunteers, Sheffield Council and local companies including construction firm Kier.

A community shop was opened in part of the building last July – with the funds raised from the premises helping to pay for the refurbishment of the rest of the site.

The former hairdressers had been empty for two years before work started.

Opening of Link at Stradbroke'Kyle and trudi doing tricks

Helen Eadon, of the Link Community which has helped bring the centre to life, said: “There was no money to open the facility in this area. It has taken a year but we have actually done it ourselves.

“It has not had funding or anything but now it is up and running.”

She said Kier had donated a new kitchen and Gripple staff decorated rooms.

The shop will continue to run to help support the new facility, while the hall will now start hosting coffee mornings, weekly movie matinees, a drop-in centre for young people and other community events.

The open day included face painting, circus skills and balloon modelling, while free pizza was provided by the Domino’s in Handsworth.

Local youngsters played music at the event, while there was also a magician showing off some tricks.

Helen said: “It has gone absolutely fantastically. We thought it would be atrocious with the weather, but the building has been packed nearly all day.

“We are giving ownership of the place to the community. There is going to be something for the very young through to the very old.”